Pressure activated cloth seal

(19)

(11)

EP 1 219 872 A3

(12)	EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION

(88)	Date of publication A3:
	12.11.2003 Bulletin 2003/46

(43)	Date of publication A2:
	03.07.2002 Bulletin 2002/27

(21)	Application number: 01310647.1

(22)	Date of filing: 19.12.2001

(51)	International Patent Classification (IPC)⁷: F16J 15/32, F16J 15/16, F01D 9/02

(84)	Designated Contracting States:
	AT BE CH CY DE DK ES FI FR GB GR IE IT LI LU MC NL PT SE TR
	Designated Extension States:
	AL LT LV MK RO SI

(30)

Priority:

26.12.2000 US 745841

(71)	Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
	Schenectady, NY 12345 (US)

(72)	Inventors:
	Aksit, Mahut Faruk Troy, New York 12180 (US) Benoit, Jeffrey Arthur Scotia, New York 12302 (US) Mohammed-Fakir, Abdul-Azeez Schenectady, New York 12308 (US)

(74)	Representative: Pedder, James Cuthbert et al
	GE London Patent Operation, Essex House, 12/13 Essex Street London WC2R 3AA London WC2R 3AA (GB)

(54)	Pressure activated cloth seal

(57) A seal assembly includes a cloth seal for sealing a cavity (75) between a first mating body (70) and a second mating body (80), the seal dividing the cavity (75) into a high pressure region (P_H) and a low pressure region (P_L). The cloth seal has a shim assemblage (64) and a cloth assemblage (62). A first peripheral portion of the cloth seal may include a portion of the cloth assemblage (62) and/or the shim assemblage (64) which contacts the high pressure region (P_H) and a second peripheral portion including a portion of the cloth assemblage (62) adapted to contact the low pressure region (P_L). Knowing the flow conditions and pressure differential through the seal, the density of the cloth seal may be calibrated to control leakage and the shim and cloth assemblages may be designed to minimize contact loads on a mating body.

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